Shoe with Directional Conditioning Device for Laces or the Like

ABSTRACT

A footwear item including an upper portion; at least one lace passing through eyelets arranged along the edges of an opening on the front the upper portion, and that tightens, thereby drawing the edges of the opening closer to each other, when pulled in a fastening direction; a string locking arrangement, provided in the upper portion having one or more passages in which the at least one lace is inserted and is capable of sliding when the wearer pulls it, while being capable of being retained there by a lock when it is at rest. The lock including an oscillating locking member in contact with the at least one lace to slide when the latter is pulled in the fastening direction, and which gets attached onto the at least one lace and locks it in position when the latter undergoes a tension in a direction opposite to the fastening direction.

The present invention refers to a footwear item provided with a lockingarrangement for strings, laces or similar means, as used in particularfor fastening boots.

For reasons of greater simplicity, reference will be made to just thecase of boots throughout the following description, even if the objectof the invention is may be integrated in other footwear items.

Except for the case in which boots are adapted to be fastened by meansof buckles or Velcro® strips, they are generally provided with stringsor laces. Such strings, usually in the number of one or—at the most—two,extend along a zigzag path on the boot as they are routed at sharpalternate turns through a number of traction eyelets attached along thetwo adjacent borders of an aperture provided in the boot, usually in thefront portion thereof, where the foot is inserted (see for instance EP 1541 049). When a string is then pulled, this is caused to slide throughthe eyelets, thereby pulling the borders of said aperture closer to eachother and, ultimately, closing said aperture.

Described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,241 is a locking arrangement forstrings or laces, in which there are provided two guides with a U-shapedcross-section, in which two strings, i.e. a string for each guide, canbe inserted and pulled parallelly along a traction direction. To lockthe strings in position, the need arises then for said strings to bebent towards each other, so that a toothing provided in the upperportion of each guide is able to engage the respective string, therebylocking it. This however requires a quite inconvenient and unnaturalmovement to be performed by the wearer, since he/she has to crosshis/her arms above the foot while keeping the strings tight andstretched.

EP 1 112 697 discloses a fastening arrangement, in which two ends of astring extending in a zigzag pattern all along the instep, i.e. thearched upper part of the foot in the boot, slip into a double guidetunnel that is oriented along the longitudinal axis of the foot, andterminate into a clevis. In this way, the wearer is able to seize theclevis by remaining in an almost erect posture, and pull it to therebytighten the string around the foot. However, the string must then belocked in the desired position by using another appropriate contrivance,otherwise it would slide backwards and slacken, thereby undoing thefastening effect of the boot. It may be readily appreciated that it isquite inconvenient for the wearer to have to stretch the string, i.e.keep it tight, and lock it at the same time onto the boot, since he/shemust stoop to do this. Moreover, apart from this adding somecomplications to the string locking arrangement itself, the need ariseshere to provide a kind of “case” in the boot, where the clevis can beaccommodated and retained, so that it does not get in the way, i.e. isnot of hindrance during normal use of the boot.

The string locking arrangement disclosed in US 2005/0097780 is providedon the front tongue of the boot and is formed of a mushroom-shapedprotrusion, under which one or more strings are run to fit in and beretained under pressure by projecting teeth so as to effectively preventthem from sliding. For the boot to be fastened, the string must bepulled sideways relative to the foot, be run under the protrusion, andfinally be pulled upwards. In this way, the string is caused to betrapped and locked up by the teeth. Anyway, having to pull thestring—or, still worse, a couple of strings—by exerting a force sidewaysrelative to the foot, is not really something that can be done in a muchconvenient manner.

Described in DE 102 38 025 is again a locking arrangement for thefastening strings of a boot. This arrangement is formed of a kind ofgrooved boss, in the groove of which there are provided projecting ribsin the shape of a V having its vertex facing the bottom of the rib. Thestring can wedge itself in the vertex of the V-shaped ribs, therebyremaining locked therein, or slide thereabove when it is at a standstilland is being pulled, respectively. The effects of a variation in thetension on the string are boosted by the provision of an elbow-shapedrebound provided in the route followed by the string as determined bythe narrow radius of curvature of the groove. Now, for the entire bootto be duly fastened, a plurality of devices such as the one describedabove are needed, actually, and the string must be run, i.e. passed byhand through each one of them—one by one.

Other string locking arrangements, which are conceptually similar to theabove-described one, are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,428 and FR 2847 129. In these cases use is made of loops in which there are providedfixed retaining teeth projecting therefrom, which are effective inretaining the string when—by assuming a particular mutualarrangement—they come into engaging the same string.

Known in the art are also a number of further string lockingarrangements, such as for instance the ones disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.3,953,114 or U.S. Pat. No. 3,564,670, in which use is made of a kind ofkey or a moving retaining tooth to lock the string onto a guide thereof.Further to being quite complicated, these arrangements require thewearer to perform an additional operation in that he/she—further to pullthe strings—has in fact to also lock them in position.

It therefore is an object of the present invention to provide a footwearitem with a locking arrangement for the strings, or similar fasteningmeans, in particular for boots, which does away with the drawbacksencountered in prior-art arrangements.

According to the present invention, this aim is reached in a footwearitem comprised of:

-   -   an upper portion that reaches up to at least the ankle;    -   at least one string or lace that runs through eyelets arranged        along the edges of an opening up on the front of the footwear        item, and that tightens up, thereby drawing the edges of said        opening closer to each other, when it is pulled in a fastening        direction;    -   a string guide arrangement, provided in the upper portion of the        boot, having one or more passages through which said string is        led, and in which said string is capable of sliding when the        wearer pulls it, while being capable of being retained there by        locking means when it is at rest, i.e. not pulled in the        fastening direction,        characterized in that said locking means are comprised of an        oscillating locking member in contact with said at least one        string which allows said at least one string to slide when the        latter is pulled in the fastening direction, and which on the        contrary gets stuck onto said at least one string and locks it        in position when the latter undergoes a tension in a direction        opposite to the fastening one.

With a footwear item according to the invention, when the string iseventually pulled to the desired extent of tightness, which may occureither in a single go or in several successive steps, the string islocked in position and the footwear items fastened in a stable andreliable manner without being slacked by the return tension of thestring. In addition, it is the sole movement of the strings thatactuates the locking means, actually, so that the wearer can use just asingle hand to fasten the footwear item.

The locking means are provided with a quite simple and user-friendlyconstruction based on an oscillating locking member, which is in contactwith said at least one string and allows said at least one string toslide when the latter is pulled in the fastening direction, whilewedging onto said at least one string to thereby keeping it locked inposition when a tension is applied onto it in the direction opposite tothe fastening one.

A further advantage is obtained if said oscillating member iselastically biased, for example by spring means or directly by aflexible segment provided integrally therewith. The result is that, infact, the pressure exerted onto the string is boosted and, above all,the oscillating member is kept—substantially constantly—in contact withthe string, regardless of its being at a standstill or sliding, so thatboth the accuracy and the reliability of the unidirectional string guidearrangement are clearly enhanced (for example, the string cannot twistor tangle up).

In view of further improving the gripping effectiveness of theoscillating member, it may be provided with properly projecting teeth.

Although the string locking means may be provided outside the passagesof the (unidirectional) string guide arrangement, they may also beintegrated in said passages for such arrangement to be made morecompact, lightweight and easily controllable.

Features and advantages of a footwear item according to the presentinvention may anyway be more readily and fully understood from thedescription of a boot that is given below by way of example withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 a is a three-quarter view of a boot according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 1 b is an enlarged view of the circle indicated at M in FIG. 1 a;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the string guide arrangement of the boot shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along the plane I-I of the arrangementshown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along the plane II-II of thearrangement shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a modified embodiment of the string guidearrangement of the boot shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along the plane III-III of thearrangement shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematical top view of a component part for the arrangementshown in FIGS. 2 and 5;

FIG. 8 is a schematical cross-sectional view along the plane IV-IV ofthe component part shown in FIG. 6.

In FIG. 1, a boot according to the present invention is generallyindicated at 20. This boot comprises a sole portion 24 and an upperportion 22, in which two strings 26, 28 on the front portion of the boot20 are capable of drawing two sides 30, 32 of the same upper portion 22closer to each other by sliding—when duly pulled—through eyelets 34attached to the edges of said sides 30, 32, wherein only a few of sucheyelets are shown in the Figure for reasons of greater simplicity.

On a tongue 36 arranged under the strings 26, 28 and the sides 30, 32 soas to close the gap above the arched upper part of the foot, and havinga free end portion 37 extending parallel to the leg (direction of theaxis Y in FIG. 1), there is provided, in a position slightly above theankle, a string guide locking arrangement 50 able to directionallycondition some laces, which is best to be seen in FIG. 1 b, where itappears in an enlarged view, and FIGS. 2 to 4.

The main body of such arrangement 50 rests on a slightly curved base 51,which is not to be seen in FIG. 1 a since it lies under the tongue 36,and is in a heart-like shape with three lobes 52 a, b, c, i.e. twoupwards oriented lobes and a downwards oriented one, respectively, whichare roughly arranged in the same manner as the angles of an equilateraltriangle and, the upwards oriented ones, with a symmetry relative to theaxis Y (a feature that will be referred to by using the suffixes “a” and“b” to indicate same and symmetrical details hereinafter). Each one ofthe two upwards oriented lobes 52 a, b comprises respectively a passage54 a (54 b), in which there are inserted and are capable of sliding thetwo end portions of the string 26. These passages 54 a (54 b), thebottom of which is formed by the above-cited base 51, and a side wall ofwhich is formed by an edgeways placed, i.e. knife-like protrusion 70 a(70 b) departing from the base 51 itself, extend in a slightly curvedpattern that tends to gradually follow the direction of the axis Y toeventually run almost parallel thereto, so that the string 26 exitingthe passages 54 a (54 b) is guided parallel to said axis Y.

The lead-in or entry side of the passages 54 a (54 b) comprises aretaining staple 56 a (56 b), or the like, so that the string 26, evenif it is let dangling, i.e. hanging loosely, is not allowed to drop ontothe ground by sliding off the passages 54 a (54 b), but is rathersustained by said staple 56 a (56 b) for it to be able to beconveniently seized and taken up again.

The downwards oriented lobe 52 c comprises two such passages 58 a and 58b, in which there are inserted and are capable of sliding the two endportions of the string 28. These passages 58 a (58 b), the bottom ofwhich is formed by the above-cited base 51, and a side wall of which isformed by an edgeways placed, i.e. knife-like protrusion 72 departingfrom the base 51 itself, extend in a manner that is almost linear andparallel to the axis Y, so that the string 28 exiting the passages 58 a(58 b) is guided parallel to said axis Y. Unlike the passages in theupwards oriented lobes, these passages 58 a (58 b) are not provided withany closing staple or similar contrivance—although they might be soprovided, actually—at the entry side thereof, so that they are fullyopen in the cross-section thereof. Instead, a lead-in or guide nick 55 a(55 b) for the two end portions of the string 28 is provided at suchentry side.

Along a side thereof, all such four passages 54 a, 54 b, 58 a, 58 bcomprise a similar oscillating locking member 60 in the shape of a cam,which is housed in a little cavity 66 a, b provided in the body of thearrangement 50 between the base 51 and a L-shaped covering extension 68a, b protruding from the same base 51, and eccentrically hinged on to apin 62 a, b fitted in perpendicularly to the axis Y (see FIGS. 3 and 4for a more detailed representation, in which—as this is done throughoutthe following description, on the other hand—the same reference numeralsare used to indicate similar parts, wherein these are solelydistinguished by the use of the suffixes “a” and “b” so as to avoidmaking the description dull reading).

With an almost planar, flat section 61 thereof, the oscillating member60 forms a side wall of the passages 54 a, 54 b, 58 a, 58 b, whereinthis wall faces the respective, opposite side wall 70 a, 70 b and 72 a,72 b. A plurality of teeth 74 (only a few of them being shown in theFigure for reasons of greater simplicity) are projecting—transversallyrelative to the lengthwise direction—from the walls 70 a, 70 b and 72 a,72 b, as well as the flat section 61 of the oscillating members 60:owing to the geometrical arrangement of the whole assembly, the resultis that, when a string is inserted in the passages 54 a, 54 b, 58 a, 58b, the same string is in contact—on the two opposite sides thereof—withsaid teeth 74 centrally relative to the base 51, while the exposedportion thereof, on the opposite side relative to said base 51, is fullyuncovered and free, i.e. not engaged or restrained. Moreover, theoscillating member 60 is able to rotate about the pin 62 so as to bringthe teeth 74 provided along the flat section 61 thereof and the oppositeside walls 70 a, 70 b and 72 a, 72 b closer to or away from each other.

As an option, connected to the pin 62 there may be spring means 64 (ahelical spring in the particular case being considered) that are adaptedto elastically bias the oscillating member 60 to push it against therespective opposite side wall 70 a, 70 b, 72 a, 72 b—in the directionindicated at F in the Figures.

The manner in which the arrangement 50 works will be explained below ingreater detail.

The two end portions of the strings 26, 28 are inserted in the passages54 a, 54 b and 58 a, 58 b, respectively, as this is best shown inFIG. 1. For the boot 20 to be laced up, i.e. fastened, the wearer hassimply to remain standing, i.e. in an erect posture, with the boot 20on, and pull the strings 26, 28 in a pulling direction for fastening Wextending parallel to the direction of the axis Y. The sliding motion ofthe strings 26, 28 causes the flat section 61 to move away from theopposite side walls 70 a, 70 b and 72 a, 72 b, so that the teeth 74provided on said walls move in turn away from each other and do notinterfere with the motion of the strings 26, 28. When the tensionapplied on the strings 26, 28 by pulling them in this way enables thedesired or preferred degree of fastening of the boot to be eventuallyreached, the wearer can release the strings 26, 28, which, by movingslightly backwards, i.e. in a direction opposite to the pulling orfastening one W, in each passage 54 a, 54 b, 58 a, 58 b as a reaction tothem being so released, owing to the friction existing between them andthe teeth 74, are able to move the respective oscillating members 60downwards, wherein these oscillating members—as assisted by both gravityand the action of the spring means 64—move closer to and get stuckagainst the respective opposite side walls 70 a, 70 b and 72 a, 72 b,thereby tightening and locking in place the strings 26, 28. The residualtension of the strings 26, 28 is sufficient to keep the members 60 inposition and the strings 26, 28 locked in place.

For the boot 20 to be then taken off, the fastening of the strings 26,28 can be released in a quite simple manner, according to a feature ofthe present invention. To do this, in fact, the wearer has just to seizethe strings 26, 28 and push them slightly forwards, towards the toe ofthe foot. By doing this, the strings 26, 28 are caused to slide on theteeth 74, which, owing to the geometrical shape thereof, do not opposeany resistance, and move out of the passages 54 a, 54 b, 58 a, 58 b (inthe direction indicated at Z in FIGS. 3 and 4). At this point, they areno longer retained by anything, except for the staples 56 a and 56 b, onwhich they are anyway able to slide, and the fastening can be undone.

A modified embodiment of the string guide arrangement for the bootaccording to the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6,where it is generally indicated at 150 and the reference numerals usedto indicate parts that are similar to those considered in connectionwith the previously illustrated embodiment have been left unaltered butfor the addition of the prefix “1”. Basically, this embodiment goeswithout the two passages 58 a, 58 b of the downwards oriented lobe 52 cof the previously considered embodiment.

The body of the string guide arrangement 150 rests on a slightly curvedbase 151 and features two lobes 152 a, b arranged symmetrically relativeto the axis Y (this feature being referred to below by using thesuffixes “a” and “b” to indicate similar and symmetrical parts). As inthe previously considered case, each one of the two lobes 152 a, bcomprises a passage 154 a (154 b) in which the two end portions of thestring 26 are inserted and able to slide. These passages 154 a (154 b),the bottom of which is formed by the above-cited base 151, extend in aslightly curved pattern that tends to gradually follow the direction ofthe axis Y to eventually run almost parallel thereto, so that the string26 exiting the passages 154 a (154 b) is guided parallel to said axis Y.The entry side of the passages 154 a (154 b) comprises a retainingstaple 156 a (156 b), or the like, so that the string 26, even if it islet dangling, i.e. hanging loosely, is not allowed to drop onto theground, but is rather sustained by said staple 156 a (156 b) for it tobe able to be conveniently seized and taken up again.

The inner structure of the passages 154 a (154 b) is made and works inthe same way as this has already been described hereinbefore, so thatthere is no point in dealing with the related details any further. Inparticular, the passages 154 a, 154 b comprise, along a side thereof, asimilar oscillating locking member 160 in the shape of a cam, which ishoused in a little cavity 166 a, b provided in the body of thearrangement 150 between the base 151 and a L-shaped covering extension168 a, b protruding from the same base 151, and eccentrically hinged onto a pin 162 a, b fitted in perpendicularly to the axis Y.

With an almost planar, flat section 161 thereof, the oscillating member160 forms a side wall of the passages 154 a, 154 b, wherein this wallfaces the respective, opposite side wall 170 a, 170 b. A plurality ofteeth 174 (only a few of them being shown in the Figure for reasons ofgreater simplicity) are projecting—transversally relative to thelengthwise direction—from the walls 170 a, 170 b, as well as the flatsection 161 of the oscillating members 160: as in the previouslyconsidered case, the result is that, when a string is inserted in thepassages 154 a, 154 b, the same string is in contact—on the two oppositesides thereof—with said teeth 174 centrally relative to the base 151,while the exposed portion thereof, on the opposite side relative to saidbase 151, is fully uncovered and unrestrained. Moreover, the oscillatingmember 160 is able to rotate about the pin 162 so as to bring the teeth174 and the opposite side walls 170 a, 170 b closer to or away from eachother.

As an option, connected to the pin 162 there may be spring means 164 (ahelical spring in the particular case being considered) that are adaptedto elastically bias the oscillating member 160 to push it against therespective opposite side wall 170 a, 170 b—in the direction indicated atF in the Figures.

A modified embodiment of a component part of the inventive string guidearrangement is illustrated schematically in FIGS. 7 and 8, where it isgenerally indicated at 200. Instead of the previously consideredoscillating members 60, 160, which may be also replaced by other jammingor wedge-in mechanisms of different shape and construction, use can bemade of an oscillating member 260 having a flexible segment 258 that,therefore, is inherently biased elastically. This flexible segment 258has a longitudinal axis X that forms with the longitudinal axis of thestring 226 an acute angle α, wherein the vertex of the angle α roughlycoincides with the point of contact between the segment 258 and thestring 226. This vertex is offset, i.e. shifted relative to the member260 towards the pulling direction W. The end portion of the segment 258in contact with the string 226 is provided with a plurality ofprojecting teeth 274 (only a few of them shown in the Figures forreasons of greater simplicity) aimed at improving the grip on the string226, and is countered by a resting wall 290 that is in turn providedwith a plurality of projecting teeth 274 (only a few of them being againshown in the Figures for reasons of greater simplicity). Thisconstruction can be most easily implemented inside the passages thathave been described hereinbefore in connection with the first and thesecond embodiment of the present invention.

The way in which the arrangement 200 works shall be now explained indetail.

The string 226 is inserted in the passage that—as indicated at 254 inthe Figures—is formed between the segment 258 and the opposing wall 290.For the boot to be fastened, the wearer has at this point to just pullthe string 226 in the pulling direction W. The resulting sliding motionof the string 226 causes the segment 258 to bend (into the positionshown by dashed lines in FIG. 8), so that the teeth 274 no longeroppose, i.e. hinder the string 226 from sliding.

When the tension applied on the string 226 by putting it in this wayenables the desired or preferred degree of fastening of the boot to beeventually reached, the wearer can release the string 226, which, bymoving slightly backwards, i.e. in a direction opposite to the pullingor fastening one W, enables the segment 258 to again move against thestring 226 so as to exert a pressure thereupon. Owing to the teeth 274,the segment 258 gets stuck onto the string 226 to thereby lock it inplace. The residual tension of the string 226 is sufficient to keep thesegment 258 in position and the string 226 locked by mutual jammingeffect. When the fastening of the boot has to be loosened, aconstruction as the one described hereinbefore in connection with thepreviously considered embodiments ensures that this can be done bysimply pulling the string 226 sideways in the direction Z.

It will be readily appreciated that the inventive concept as illustratedwith reference to the accompanying drawings and described above byway ofnon-limiting example may be the subject of a number of further differentembodiments, and variants thereof, without departing from the scope ofthe present invention as defined by the following claims.

1-22. (canceled)
 23. A footwear item comprising: an upper portion thatreaches up to at least the ankle; at least one string or lace that runsthrough eyelets arranged along the edges of a gap opening up on thefront of the upper portion, and that tightens up, thereby drawing theedges of said gap closer to each other, when it is pulled in a fasteningdirection extending parallel to the leg of the user; a string lockingarrangement, provided in the upper portion, having a main body restingon a base and being provided with one or more passages, the bottom ofwhich is formed by said base and in which said at least one string isinserted and is capable of sliding when the wearer pulls it, while beingcapable of being retained there by locking means when it is. not pulledin the fastening direction, wherein the locking means are provided in atleast one of said passages, said locking means being comprised of anoscillating locking member in contact with said at least one string,which allows said at least one string to slide when the latter is pulledin the fastening direction, and which on the contrary gets attached tosaid at least one string and locks it in position when the latterundergoes a tension in a direction opposite to the fastening directionand wherein said one or more passages have a geometrical arrangementsuch that, when the string is inserted therein, the same string has theside opposite to the bottom of the passage uncovered, so that it ispossible for the user to release the fastening of the string by seizingthe string and pushing it forward, towards the toe of the foot, causingthe string to move out of said one or more passages.
 24. The footwearitem according to claim 23, wherein said oscillating locking member isbiased elastically.
 25. The footwear item according to claim 23, whereinsaid oscillating locking member comprises projecting teeth.
 26. Thefootwear item according to claim 25, wherein said oscillating lockingmember includes a planar section, transversally relative to thelengthwise direction of which there are provided projecting teeth. 27.The footwear item according to claim 23, wherein at least one passagecomprises on a side thereof said oscillating locking member, which ishoused in a cavity provided between a base and a covering extension ofthe string locking arrangement.
 28. The footwear item according to claim23, wherein the string locking arrangement comprises a main body restingon said base, which is in a heart-like shape with three lobes,comprising two upwards oriented lobes and a downwards oriented lobe,respectively, which are roughly arranged in the same manner as theangles of an equilateral triangle, the upwards oriented lobes comprisingat least one passage each.
 29. The footwear item according to claim 23,wherein the bottom of at least one passage is formed by the base and aside wall thereof is formed by an edgeways placed, knife-like protrusionbelonging to the string guide arrangement.
 30. The footwear itemaccording to claim 23, wherein the downwards oriented lobe comprises atleast two passages, the bottom of which is formed by the base and a sidewall thereof is formed by an edgeways placed, knife-like protrusionbelonging to the lobe.
 31. The footwear item according to claim 23,wherein at least one passage extends in a slightly curved pattern thattends to gradually follow the direction of an axis that is substantiallyparallel to the leg of the person wearing the footwear item.
 32. Thefootwear item according to claim 23, wherein the entry side of at leastone passage comprises a retaining member, so that said at least onestring, even if it is let hanging loosely, is not allowed to drop bysliding off said at least one passage.
 33. The footwear item accordingto claim 32, wherein said retaining member is comprised of a closingstaple.
 34. The footwear item according to claim 23, wherein theoscillating locking member comprises a substantially flat section thatforms a side wall of at least one passage.
 35. The footwear itemaccording to claim 23, wherein a plurality of projecting teeth areprovided on side walls of at least one passage.
 36. The footwear itemaccording to claim 35, wherein said teeth are provided projecting fromside walls in a position opposite to the oscillating locking member. 37.The footwear item according to claim 23, wherein the oscillating lockingmember is hinged eccentrically on to a pin that is fittedperpendicularly to the base of the string locking arrangement.
 38. Thefootwear item according to claim 37, wherein the oscillating lockingmember is biased elastically by spring means.
 39. The footwear itemaccording to claim 38, wherein said spring means are secured to the pin.40. The footwear item according to claim 37, wherein the oscillatinglocking member is biased elastically by a flexible segment thereof. 41.The footwear item according to claim 40, wherein the oscillating lockingmember is a flexible segment with a longitudinal axis that, with alongitudinal axis of the at least one string, forms an acute angle, inwhich the vertex of said acute angle roughly coincides with the point ofcontact between the flexible segment and the at least one string. 42.The footwear, item according to claim 23, wherein the footwear item is aboot with an upper portion that reaches up beyond the ankle and hasfrontally, over the foot, an aperture whose side edges are capable ofbeing drawn closer to each other by means of the at least one string.43. The footwear item according to claim 42, wherein the footwear itemfurther comprises, as a covering for the arched upper part of the foot,a tongue in which there is fitted a base of the string lockingarrangement, a main body of said string locking arrangement, whichcomprises at least one passage, being provided to protrude from saidtongue.